New Zealand ODI Squad: Duffy Returns, Sears Out

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-02

New Zealand Cricket has named a 16-player squad for their five-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting July 11 in Guyana. This series is a key step in preparing for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. All-rounder Mitchell Santner will captain the side throughout the Caribbean tour. ### Jacob Duffy Back in Black Caps Experienced fast bowler Jacob Duffy returns to the national squad after taking a short break for the birth of his first child. He missed the recent Test series win over England but last played for New Zealand during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup earlier this year. His return adds valuable experience to a bowling group that's missing a few veteran players. Duffy is the current holder of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal as New Zealand's player of the year. Head coach Rob Walter called him a standout performer across all formats over the last two years. The coaching staff expects Duffy to provide essential leadership and depth to the pace attack during the five matches in Guyana and Barbados. ### Matthew Fisher Gets First ODI Call-Up The selectors also added 26-year-old speedster Matthew Fisher to the 16-man group. This is Fisher's first-ever call-up to the ODI squad. He's played one Test match and one T20 International for New Zealand, but hasn't yet made his debut in the 50-over format. Coach Walter praised Fisher's consistent performances in domestic cricket. He also highlighted Fisher's ability to bowl at a good pace and his commitment to developing different variations for different phases of an innings. The team believes Fisher's adaptability to match situations makes him a valuable addition. ### Injury Blow for Ben Sears Ben Sears won't be traveling to the West Indies. Instead, he'll head home to New Zealand for treatment. He started feeling pain in his ankle during a four-day Test against Ireland in May, but the injury flared up significantly on the final day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge. Medical staff made the precautionary decision to send Sears back to prevent further damage. It's a tough break for Sears, who was originally named in the 16-man squad after his recent performances against England. ### Ben Lister Steps In Auckland Aces bowler Ben Lister will join the team in Guyana over the next few days to take Sears' place. Lister is an experienced white-ball player who has already represented New Zealand in 17 international matches. He made his ODI debut in 2023 against Pakistan in Karachi and has taken 17 wickets across all formats for the Black Caps. Lister last played for the national team during the ODI series against Bangladesh in April. His left-arm pace brings a different angle to the New Zealand bowling attack, which could be useful on the Guyana and Barbados pitches. ### Key Takeaways from the Squad - **Captain:** Mitchell Santner leads the side. - **Returning player:** Jacob Duffy brings experience and leadership. - **New face:** Matthew Fisher earns his maiden ODI call-up. - **Injury replacement:** Ben Lister replaces the injured Ben Sears. - **Missing player:** Rachin Ravindra will miss the series due to MLC commitments. This series is all about building momentum for the 2027 World Cup. The squad has a nice mix of seasoned players and fresh talent. It'll be interesting to see how the new faces perform under Caribbean conditions. The tour starts with the first ODI on July 11 in Guyana. All matches will be played across Guyana and Barbados. Fans in the US can catch the action on various streaming platforms.